The Royal Moroccan Navy is strengthening its anti-submarine warfare and mine countermeasures with the purchase of two Dutch unmanned surface vessels (USVs). The $14.7 million deal includes sensors, control systems, spare parts, training, and technical services, according to press reports.
The package also includes a mission control station, operational documentation, and support equipment. The USVs can conduct multi-day missions with a high degree of autonomy, allowing naval forces to carry out surveillance, reconnaissance, and specialized maritime operations without putting personnel at risk.
These maritime drone vessels are expected to reinforce Rabat’s ability to monitor and protect littoral zones and key maritime routes against growing underwater threats.
The Dutch House of Representatives had approved the foreign military sale after reviewing the favorable opinions issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation under the EU’s eight arms export criteria.
The Netherlands described Morocco as a “stable and strategic partner in an unstable region,” citing the country’s location along the EU’s southern border and its critical role in regional security cooperation.
Amsterdam also affirmed that the USVs are intended for defensive missions along Morocco’s two coastlines: the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. Together, these two coastal areas span over 1,200 miles.
